- IRU Strategy 2022-2027
- Celebrating 20 years
- Indigenous Network
- IRU Statistics
- Submissions
- Job-Ready Graduates Package
- Universities in Their Local Communities
- Sustainability
- First Nations Communities
- Equity and Access
- Partners in the Indo-Pacific
- Futures for Australia
- IRU Publications
- Research Student Outcomes and Career Pathways
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) is a coalition of public universities across Australia committed to inclusive education and innovative research that advances our communities.
Our membership is Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University, University of Canberra and Western Sydney University.
Our members’ commitment and impact is both local and global with a focus on advancing communities through education, resources, opportunities, translational research and enterprise.
Through its members working collectively, the IRU seeks to be at the constructive centre of Australian university policy making, influencing political developments beyond individual university capacities to do so.
The IRU members’ research focus is on the translation and commercialisation of research on issues of critical importance to the communities in which they are based and addressing problems of national and global scale. Over time our members have developed their own particular research strengths, with multiple areas of research at and well above world standard.
The history of our member universities goes back to the 1960s and early 1970s when, under both Liberal and Labor governments, there was an expansion of new forms of higher education and research to meet the needs of the nation. As capital cities and regional centres grew, new universities and colleges were established to open up access to students.
The public universities in the IRU trace their history to this moment in Australia’s social and economic development. Our members are young and dynamic universities, with a shared commitment to innovative models of education and research that serve their communities.
From their founding, IRU members pioneered new forms of inter-disciplinary teaching and research, for example in environmental studies. Today, our members are multi-campus universities with a continued commitment to sustainability and social transformation.
Our universities were the first in the country to establish schools of modern Asian studies and the IRU remains committed to strengthening understanding of, and engagement with, our region for the future of Australia. Through our strategy, we will prioritise work to deepen key partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
The IRU was established in July 2003 as a coalition of comprehensive research universities, with a commitment to innovation, that aimed to build upon their connection to local communities for a more collaborative and coordinated approach at the national level.
Read more about our history .
Read our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan .
The IRU is a coalition of public universities across Australia committed to inclusive education and innovative research that advances our communities.
Through collaboration, constructive engagement in public policy and partnerships, both domestically and across the Indo-Pacific region, we enhance our impact for the future of Australia.
Our shared values
An openness to new ideas and to working together to develop new approaches, so that education and research contribute to social progress.
Mutual Respect
To underpin effective collaboration across IRU members and to support constructive engagement with communities, policy-makers and other partners.
A focus on equity in all aspects of our work, to ensure that education and research are as accessible as possible to the community.
In our work with academic colleagues and policy-makers, we commit to sharing quality information, rigorous analysis and evidence-based policy.
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Research & Innovation
Australia’s university system has evolved to fulfil a range of functions, which individually and collectively help to drive public good outcomes and national prosperity.
University research not only leads to new products and new industries, it also informs public debate, improves our health and wellbeing and helps solve our most complex problems. It adds to our understanding of our history, culture, society and appreciation of the world around us.
Cutting-edge research in Australian universities also informs how we educate the next generation of university-trained professionals, researchers and leaders.
At a glance
- In 2019–20, Australia’s universities undertook 36 per cent of Australia’s total R&D , and almost 80 per cent of public sector research.
- universities perform 87 per cent of discovery or basic research in Australia.
- in 2020, universities performed approximately 45.3 per cent of all applied research in Australia compared to 38.9 per cent by Australian businesses.
- for every one per cent increase in R&D, Australia’s productivity rises by 0.13 per cent points
- even though Australia is home to just 0.3 per cent of the world’s population, we produce around three per cent of the world’s research .
- more than 90 per cent of Australian university research is rated as world class or higher.
- universities represent the majority of Australia’s research workforce at 81,090 FTE out of a total workforce of 180,540 FTE (45 per cent) in 2020, and
- postgraduate students compromise 57 per cent of the university R&D workforce, making them significant contributors to Australia’s research efforts.
Research funding
Funding for Australian research and development comes from a variety of sources.
Research workforce
Australia’s research workforce is made up of university research staff and students.
Research translation
Research translation is the process of creating new knowledge and ideas that can be translated into economic, social and environmental benefits for all Australians.
Artificial intelligence in research
Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving and applications for AI are growing every day. More recently, the rise of large language models (LLM) such as ChatGPT and similar platforms have made AI more accessible for everyone to use.
University research changes lives
University Research saves and changes lives.
Research quality and integrity
The conduct of research in Australia is governed by a framework.
Fees for external examiners
Universities Australia regularly reviews the standard fees that it recommends universities pay to external examiners for Masters, PhDs, and Higher and Professional Doctorates.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Research
Submissions, universities australia’s response to the cyber security legislative package 2024 inquiry.
Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s Review of the Cyber Security Legislative Package 2024.
Universities Australia’s response to the Department of Industry’s Proposals Paper
Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ (DISR) consultation on its proposals paper for introducing mandatory guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI) in high-risk settings.
UA's response to Defence Trade Legislation Amendment Regulations 2024
Universities Australia appreciates the opportunity to continue to engage with the Government on changes to Australia’s Defence Trade Control framework and the draft regulations associated with the Defence Trade Legislation Amendment (the Regulations).
Related Media
Ministerial direction 107 must go.
The Albanese Government must immediately act to remove Ministerial Direction 107 (MD107) to deliver the certainty, stability and growth necessary to sustain Australia’s universities and which has been promised to them.
Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy - ABC TV News Afternoon Briefing
TOPICS: Ministerial Direction 107, international student caps, international education
Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy - ABC Radio Illawarra
TOPICS: International education, international student caps, university job cuts, HECS, Shaping Australia Awards
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